Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme between New Zealand and NATO

04 Jun. 2012

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Last updated: 27 Jun. 2012 18:09

1. Shared principles, shared challenges and a shared commitment

1.1 New Zealand’s partnership with NATO is built upon a foundation of shared principles: common democratic values; international security and stability based on the rule of law, including international humanitarian law, human rights law and respect for fundamental freedoms; and a commitment to those principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

1.2 NATO and New Zealand also share common challenges. Key international institutions are working hard to forge consensus on a range of trans-boundary issues. Economic weight is shifting with unpredictable consequences. Terrorism presents a continuing challenge to state authorities and the threat of nuclear proliferation is growing. Increasing economic interdependence, failing states, and new forms of technologies, such as those used in cyber attacks, mean that the risks faced by modern societies extend well beyond national borders. Climate change and the growing competition for resources are placing further pressure on the international system. This challenging global outlook calls for active engagement by partners sharing common values.

1.3 Despite our geographic distance, the partnership between New Zealand and NATO continues to grow in relevance: we are affected by, and can affect, security developments beyond our borders.

1.4 New Zealand and NATO have already demonstrated a practical commitment to work together in partnership to advance those shared principles and meet those shared challenges. That commitment has seen New Zealand’s participation throughout the NATO-led Implementation / Stabilisation Force (IFOR/SFOR) operations in Bosnia Herzegovina, and in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan.

1.5 Through these combined efforts, in particular in Afghanistan, the relationship between New Zealand and NATO has transformed into a genuine security partnership aimed at enhancing interoperability in support of NATO-led operations, contributing to security, peace and stability, particularly in the Euro-Atlantic and Asia-Pacific regions, promoting democratic values and norms and improving our joint ability to tackle emerging security challenges.

1.6 To continue this partnership, NATO and New Zealand reaffirm their close ties and confirm the following arrangements as a basis for on-going and future co-operation.

2. Objectives for cooperation

2.1 Based on the Strategic Concept adopted by NATO at the 2010 Lisbon Summit, and with the overarching goal of increasing our shared security, NATO and New Zealand will continue to promote and strengthen our partnership, including in the priority areas for dialogue, consultation and cooperation set out below, through:

strengthening practical and political cooperation and, where appropriate, developing common approaches to meeting shared security challenges;

maintaining a strategic and inclusive approach to New Zealand’s participation in future NATO-led operations and missions;

enhancing New Zealand Defence Force professionalism and interoperability between NATO and New Zealand; and

building capacity and capability through:

participating in education and joint training and exercises, including when not engaged together in active operations;

sharing experience, expertise and information; and

exchanges of personnel (military and civilian), including through secondments.

2.2 The partnership will continue to be guided by our common values and strategic interests. It will be a functional, flexible and mutually-reinforcing partnership that recognises and builds on NATO’s strategic concept, and New Zealand’s national interests, taking into account the growing economic and strategic relevance of the Asia-Pacific region.

3. Priority areas for dialogue, consultation and cooperation

3.1 New Zealand and NATO will cooperate across many of the areas in the Partnership Cooperation Menu, including in the following areas, as appropriate and as resources allow:

political consultations on security issues of common concern, as appropriate to augment the day-to-day discussions amongst officials, in order to strengthen peace and security efforts;

development of common approaches to meeting enduring security challenges (such as terrorism) and emerging security challenges (such as cyber and maritime);

the continued sharing of information and intelligence to support increased practical co-operation, including through BICES, noting that the Agreement on the Security of Information between NATO and New Zealand, signed in 2007, has played a vital component in this regard already;

enhancing interoperability and enabling support / logistics cooperation, which would further assist the New Zealand Defence Force engagement in any future NATO-led missions;

working together on issues of Crisis Management (CM) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR); and

other foreign and security policy priorities identified by NATO and New Zealand as being of common interest.

4. Principal activities under this arrangement

4.1 New Zealand’s participation in NATO activities will be managed through the Partnership Real-time Information and Management Exchange system (ePRIME).

4.2 New Zealand will endeavour to make available places for NATO personnel on New Zealand Defence Force training courses, within the limits of availability and the needs of NATO countries. This may include, but is not limited to, the New Zealand Defence Force Command and Staff College courses. The participation of NATO personnel on such courses will recognise the offers that New Zealand receives from NATO to send participants to NATO training courses, and aims to increase interoperability and cooperation between NATO and New Zealand forces.